Torque Converter
Convert between torque units — Newton-meters, foot-pounds, inch-pounds, kilogram-centimeters, and more — instantly. Real-time conversion with copy-to-clipboard.
Torque Converter
Enter a value in any unit — see the conversion in all others instantly.
How to Use the Torque Converter
An engine spec sheet lists 320 Newton meters, but your torque wrench only reads in foot-pounds. A bicycle pedal manual specifies 25 pound-feet, but you need to know the Newton meter equivalent for a metric bolt. Enter the value, pick the source unit, and the converter shows the equivalent in all nine supported torque units simultaneously.
A car service manual specifies 110 N·m for wheel lug nuts but your torque wrench reads in pound-feet. Enter 110, select Newton Meter, and the tool shows 81.07 lbf·ft so you can set your wrench correctly. The Copy button puts the number on your clipboard for quick reference in the garage.
A German automotive supplier lists peak torque as 450 N·m, while a Japanese supplier quotes 45.9 kgf·m for the same class of motor. Enter each value and compare side by side. The converter also shows kilonewton meters (0.45 kN·m) and ounce-force inches (3,983 ozf·in) for specifications across different industries.
A carbon seatpost clamp requires 5 N·m, but your torque wrench is calibrated in inch-pounds. Enter 5, select Newton Meter, and the result shows 44.27 lbf·in. The tool handles these small values with up to 8 decimal places of precision, so you get an accurate reading even for delicate bicycle components.
A textbook problem asks you to express 10 N·m in dyne-meters and poundal-feet. Enter 10, select Newton Meter, and the converter shows 100,000,000 dyn·m and 237.30 pdl·ft. The poundal-foot result demonstrates why the CGS system is rarely used in engineering — the numbers become unwieldy fast.
How the Torque Converter Works
The converter normalizes every torque unit to a common base unit (Newton meter) using stored conversion factors, then converts from that base to the target unit.
Torque Unit Definitions
The Newton meter (N·m) is the SI derived unit of torque, representing one newton of force applied at a lever arm of one meter. One lbf·ft equals approximately 1.35582 N·m, which is why car engine torque in the US (measured in pound-feet) always has a smaller number than the same engine in metric markets. The kilogram-force centimeter (kgf·cm) is common in Japanese and European automotive torque specs — one kgf·cm equals 0.0980665 N·m, so a spec of 500 kgf·cm translates to roughly 49 N·m.
Single-Ratio Conversion Formula
Each unit stores a factor relative to N·m. Converting from unit A to unit B follows the formula: Result = Input × (FactorA ÷ FactorB). For example, converting 100 lbf·ft to N·m computes 100 × (1.355818 ÷ 1) = 135.5818 N·m. Converting the same 100 lbf·ft to kgf·cm computes 100 × (1.355818 ÷ 0.0980665) = 1,382.55 kgf·cm. All nine supported units convert through this single-ratio approach with no intermediate rounding.
Adaptive Precision Display
Results use adaptive decimal formatting to stay readable across scales. Values above 1,000 show up to 2 decimal places (e.g., 135,581.80 for large N·m inputs). Mid-range values show up to 6 decimal places. Small values like 0.001 dyn·m show up to 10 decimal places. Values outside the 10⁻⁶ to 10⁹ range switch to scientific notation with four significant figures, ensuring you can read the result whether it is 0.0000001 or 1,000,000,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between N·m and lbf·ft?
Newton meters (N·m) are the SI unit of torque, using metric force and distance. Pound-feet (lbf·ft) are the imperial equivalent, using pound-force and feet. One lbf·ft equals approximately 1.35582 N·m, so imperial torque values are numerically smaller than their metric counterparts.
Which torque unit is used for car engine specifications?
Most manufacturers list engine torque in Newton meters (N·m) in metric markets and pound-feet (lbf·ft) in the United States. Japanese and European specs may also use kilogram-force meters (kgf·m). This converter supports all common automotive torque units so you can compare specs across regions.
How do I convert between metric and imperial torque units?
To convert metric to imperial, divide the N·m value by 1.355818 to get lbf·ft. To convert imperial to metric, multiply by the inverse factor. This tool handles the math automatically for all unit pairs without manual calculation, and the results grid shows every unit simultaneously.
What is the difference between lbf·ft and pdl·ft?
Foot-pounds force (lbf·ft) use one pound-force applied at a one-foot lever arm, while foot-poundals (pdl·ft) use the smaller poundal unit of force. One lbf·ft equals approximately 32.174 pdl·ft, so poundal-foot values are significantly larger numerically. The poundal system is rarely used outside physics textbooks.
Why does this converter support so many torque units?
Different industries and regions prefer different torque units. Automotive shops use lbf·ft or N·m, aerospace engineers may work in ozf·in, and physics problems sometimes reference dyn·m or pdl·ft. Supporting all nine common units means you can convert between any pair without looking up conversion tables.
Is this torque converter accurate enough for engineering calculations?
Yes. The converter uses high-precision conversion factors stored as floating-point values and applies them with no intermediate rounding. Results display up to ten decimal places for small values, ensuring sufficient precision for engineering, automotive, and physics applications.